Thinking back to last spring! American artist Dawn Holder AIR 2019 in the CRETA Rome studio. Her show totale was “Ciò che muore”. “As a resident of the rural southern United States, I have spent the past year researching and making artwork in reaction to Confederate monuments throughout the state of Arkansas— looking closely at how these public spaces, structures, and sculptures have been utilized and aestheticized to promote racial segregation, reinforce social hierarchy, and define ethnic and political boundaries. Like much of recorded history, monuments reflect more about the perspectives of those who are or were in power than the multiplicity and diversity of actual lived human experience. My recent sculptures and installations references these monuments, their form and their inscribed text, as well as their relationship to the landscape, through imagery of decay and fragmentation. During my stay in Rome, I have been able to look back through time at various iterations of the monument, with a focus on the rich visual history of ancient equestrian monuments. Like Confederate monuments made in the same tradition, these sculptures enforce a rigid hierarchy: the powerful equestrian is not only in control of his horse, he also towers over us, the viewer. We become the humble subjects or even the conquered enemy. By excerpting and recontextualizing fragments of these iconic sculptures, I imagine a time when even the most powerful and enduring monuments find themselves in a state of ruination and decay.” Her residency was supported by the Lighton International Artist Exchange Program. @cretarome #artistresidencyrome #anartistinresidenceaday #ceramicresidencyprogram #coronavirusitalia #dawnholder #hopelessradiance #lightoninternationalartistexchangeprogram
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